Waterbury evening Democrat., 1887-12-20

1 .n0 tIirllnng Outcry from below warned
 nm that his own departure must be nc
 longer delayed Fry and myself had beer
 engaged in securing the jailer, who, though
 old, was powerful, and fought vigorously
 put nad not finished when we were warned
 oy the uproar that all thought of quiet
 ueparture was at an end, and that there
 was no longer motive in holding on te
 turner: We all rushed down stairs as best
 we could, we'll knowing that we would now be last in the flight, which was not
 the post of safety. The deserter passed
 us all like tiger on the leap-I never saw
 sucn speed Tn q narrow place-and getting
 10 the pack door found two guards await | Ing nlm With bayonets at the charge He
 seized one in each hand, cutting himself 1 severely, but f1inging them aside so forci
 ply that the men were very nearly over.
 thrown, and then with the same swiftness
 continued over the fence and on to the | woods, soon being in advance of all the fugitives. l learned that he escaped to Washington, but months after returning | south secretly to visit his family, was cap- tured, recognized and hanged.
 Buffum followed after him and got over the fence with difficulty, but though a very brave man and a hard fighter, he was poor runner. One Confederate. who was quite swift footed, kept right after him, gaining considerably, and threatening to shoot him if he did not stop. To this Buffum paid no attention, for running man has an unsteady hand and no certain aim, but he soon stopped because of exhaustion, just as the man overlook him. Now Buffum thought it the right time to try his ''Yankee wit;'' so he threw himself down and said q am so done out that can go no further; you run on and catch that fellow,n point ing to fugitive running short distance ahead. But the man saw the design, and with q great oath declared that he had him now and meant to keep him. Poor Buffum was allowed very brief time to rest, and then was marched back again to the prison. have scarcely doubt that if he had not waited to unlock the doors he would have made good his own escape
 Capt. Fry and myself were close to- gether in going down the stairs, he being little in advance. At glance he saw there was no chance in the front yard the way we had intended to take-and at once turned to the back door, which was left open by the passage of the rebel de- serter. He got over the wall with little effort, but finding himself chased as Buff fum had been, he used little strategy. A good many shots were being fired in all directions, and he suddenly threw up his -AN~-~~~o ~%AA>N ASAA lowing him passed on after unwounded game, and when the way was clear he arose and resumed his course. He was seen again and had most desperate chase, but reached the shelter of the friendly woods.
 At no time in all my southern expe- rience did find defective vision to be such dreadful misfortune as just now. My eyes were easily dazzled by sudden increase of light, and as came out of the obscurity into the broad light, for some seconds could scarcely see at all In this interval l was parted from Fry by running to the front door according to our original plan. There were two frightened guards in the gate tossing their guns about and seeming not to know what they should do. These were not danger ous looking and ran up to them-for now the power of seeing had come back; but just as was about darting out of the gate saw the stream of guards outside, They called on me to surrender, but l was not ready for that and hurried back into the yard. A sentinel tried to shoot me at point blank range, but, fortu- nately, his gun failed to go off. I got back into the jail and now started out the back way-the course I should have taken at first. There were a number of guards in the back yard bv this time, but in the confusion I got through them and to the top of the fence What was my dismay to see consider able number of self possessed soldiers outside waiting with lifted guns to shoot any one whose head might appear above the fence. I jumped very quickly down on the inside. One hope yet remained. l ran into the building and out at the front door, thinking that now the front gate n1irhf 1nf O So1 o,1 <11H% :,, least likely way I might slip through. But it was vain; a large number of sol diers were on the ground and they were being carefully posted. I saw that the first panic and all the advantages of sur prise were over. l ran back into the jail to try the back door once more, but & sentinel was now standing at it and several soldiers followed me into the building. l did not care whether they fired or not, for I now utterly despaired. I went up the stairway, the guards not molesting me, and looked out at the chase which was continuing over the adjacent hills.
 1t was wild and exciting spectacle. Company after company of soldiers came up. The bells of the city were ringing, and shots were being fired rapidly, while loud commands and screams were min gled. feared that many of our number were or soon would be killed. Then I left the window and went to the front room where the prisoners of war were, and to my inexpressible surprise found that they had not gone out of their room at all! They said that there was too much risk in it-that it would not be possible for any one to get off.
 Parrott and Reddick were captured in- side the prison yard and Buffum outside Bensinger, who had been so gallant in the struggle in the jailyard had 8 fearful ex- perience afterward. After the first race for the woods he was discovered by some men with dogs. For some three hours they pressed him sore1y. He could get out of sight of the men, but the hounds clung to his trail, like bloodhounds as they were! When wearied almost to death, he found stream of water, and by running for long distance in that, was able at last to get away from them But he was utterly exhausted in this long and critical chase, and, being alone, was in no fit condition for the terrible journey that lay before him.
 The next evening he went to the negro quarters on plantation and was received by the slaves with the sympathy they were always prepared to extend to fugi tives. But the planter also saw his ap proach, and, coming unawares upon Ben